Beverage dispensing machine



Jan. 23, 1934.

R. LA F. ROGERS. JR 1,944,811

BEVERAGE DISPENSING MACHINE Filed Dec. 30, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l Patented Jan. 23, 1934 .j' HT E rArEs BEVERAGE DISPENSING MACHINE ration of Tennessee Application December 30, 1930 Serial No. 505,623

15 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in beverage dispensing machines, and more particularly concerns the devices for delivering a predetermined quantity of one ingredient of a beverage, and to the devices for mixing this ingredient in preparing the final beverage.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a device for delivering a predetermined quantity of syrup upon the effecting of a coin controlled operation, with the inclusion of means to revent the milking or obtaining of a quantity greater than the predetermined amount.

Another feature of the present invention is the provision of means for securing a proper and pre determined alinement of the parts of the syrup measuring device.

A further feature of the present invention is the provision of a mixing device for combining the syrup with another ingredient of the beverage.

Still another feature of the invention is the provision of a pressure releasing structure for bringing carbonated water into a mixing chamber for admixture with the syrup, which operates under dilfering heads of pressure in the carbonated water supply to give a uniform consistency of beverage.

With these and other objects in view, as will appear in the course of the following specification tion of the apparatus has been set forth in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view showing the relationship of the syrup tank and measuring device with the mixing chamber.

Figure 2 is a view of a portion of Figure 1, on a larger scale showing the details of construction of parts of the syrup measuring device.

Figure 3 is a detailed view in vertical section and on a larger scale than Figure l of the mixing chamber, and a carbonated water measuring chamber and delivery device.

Figure 4 is a detailed view on a larger scale than Figure 3, of the pressure reducing device.

Figure 5 is a View on the scale of Figure 1, showing elements of a coin controlled system.

It will be understood that the present structure is an improvement upon the device shown in the'application of Ralph L. Rogers, Serial No. 423,842, filed January 2'7, 1930.

In these drawings, the shaft 23 has a manually operable crank handle 22 secured thereto,

(Fig. 6) whereby the shaft may be rotated in a counter-clockwise direction against the operation of a spring 23a which is attached to a 0L and claims, an illustrative form of the construcframe wall 109 of the machine and to the offset crank 23b of the shaft 23. Normally, this movement is prevented by the engagement of a pawl 126 mounted on a pivot 128 of the frame bracket 32 of the machine, which engages between the teeth of a ratchet wheel 125 secured to the shaft 23. Upon the insertion of a coin C in the chute, and the operation of a plunger 21 with a stem 121, the coin C is forced against an inclined face of the pawl 126, so that the pawl moves against the action of a compression spring 127 and releases the ratchet wheel. The shaft 23 may now be turned in a counterclockwise direction, and carries therewith a cam block 133 until its off-set portion 134 engages an adjusting screw 137 whereby a limitation is imposed upon the movement of the shaft 23. Upon the movement of the pawl 126 about its pivot 128, the spring 132 is compressed and thereby the pawl 129 is moved in a clockwise direction about its pivot 130 and brought into en gagement with the ratchet wheel 125. The pawl 129 thus acts as a full stroke pawl to prevent movement of the shaft 23 in a clockwise direction: and hence the shaft 23 must complete its movement. When the shaft has completed its movement, the inclined end 1330. of the cam block 133 engages the pin 139 and moves this pin axially whereby the coin is displaced from its position in engagement with the pawl 126, and thus the pawl is permitted to move in a clockwise direction under the urgency of the spring 127 until it again engages with the ratchet wheel 125. During this movement of the pawl 126, the pawl 129 is again withdrawn from engagement with the ratchet Wheel. The shaft 23 is thus freed for a return movement in a clockwise direction under the urgency of the spring 23a until the adjusting screw 135 encounters the bracket 32 and brings the shaft and associated parts to a standstill. This has been described in the aforesaid application Serial No. 423,842 of Ralph L. Rogers: and is not claimed herein.

The syrup tank T contains a supply of the flavoring which is to be incorporated into the final beverage, and for example may be provided with a filling cap 140 and be supported by the frame members 108, 23, 43. This syrup tank T at its bottom has a cylinder 11 which receives a piston 40. The piston is connected to the plunger 35 having a bent portion 38 and an extension 39 connected to the piston 40, whereby the plunger passes through the cover of the syrup tank T and no packing joint is required around it. The shaft 23 has a gear 34 thereon which, when in mesh with the toothed lower end 36 of the plunger 35, causes a downward movement of the plunger upon a counter-clockwise rotation of the shaft 23 as described above, so that the piston 40 operates upon the syrup content in the lower portion of the cylinder 41 to force this syrup downwardly through the syrup pipe 53 into the mixing chamber. It will be understood that normally a plurality of syrup tanks T are employed and that the operation of these tanks is similar one to another: and that the handle 19 may be moved back and forth upon the shaft 33 so that the arm i7 will move the gear 37 to select the proper syrup by meshing with the toothed end 36 of the respective plunger 35. The downward movement of the plunger 35 causes the collar 45 to compress the spring 46: and upon release of the shaft 23, the spring 46 assists in the return movement of the shaft, and also produces a return of the piston 0 to the upper end of the cylinder 41. The upward movement of the plunger 35 is limited by the stop collar 44 which engages with a frame member 28.

As shown in Figure 2 the lower end of the portion 39 of the plunger has a universal joint 39a whereby the proper alinement of the piston 40 of the cylinder 41 is assured. The piston 40 has a ball valve 4011 which closes upon the downward movement of the piston i0 to prevent any escape of the liquid except through the syrup pipe 53. The conduit of the piston 40 in which this ball valve is located is in communication with an air relief duct 4% which extends upwardly to above the liquid lever in the tank T, and preferably is supported with respect to the plunger portion 39 of a clip 400.

The measuring chamber 62 for carbonated water or other beverage ingredient has a cover 63 and is provided with an inlet pipe 65 in the cover which is in axial alinement with a sleeve 69 secured in the bottom of this chamber 62. An upper valve member comprises a sleeve 66 which is slidable in the inlet pipe 65 and is provided with a plurality of openings 68 by which liquid may enter the chamber 62. This upper valve member also includes a closing plate 6'7 which when seated against the lower face of the cover 63 and upon the end of the pipe 65 shuts off communication with the water inlet pipe 65. A stud 67a on the upper valve plate 6'7 guides a compression spring '75 which is guided at its lower end by a stud 73a on the closing plate '73 of the lower valve member which includes a tube '72 having apertures 74 through which liquid may pass from the chamber 62 when the lower valve is raised. This lower valve is guided by a close sliding fit in the sleeve 69, and has a bushing 81 thereon with teeth 82 for engagement with teeth formed on the shaft 23 (Fig. 3) so that upon a counterclockwise movement of the shaft 23 the tube '72 and therewith the two valve members are moved upwardly.

and a plurality of peripheral openings 86 through its wall whereby the water from the tube '72 encounters a substantially closed portion of the partition 85, and upon spreading laterally may pass through the openings 86 into the lower cornpartment of the mixing block.

The syrup pipe 53 is provided at its lower end with a ball valve 87 which is opened by the pressure on the syrup when forced downward by the piston 40 so that the syrup may enter the lower compartment of the mixing block. A mixing tube 88 is in communication with the mixing block, and receives the drainage therefrom. This mixing tube 88 is provided at a short distance below its upper end with a partition 89 having a plurality of apertures 96 therein, including a small aperture at the lowest point of its upwardly concave shape. The lower end of the mixing tube 88 is reduced in size to provide a nozzle 91 for the delivery of the mixed beverage into a receiving cup.

As shown in Figure 4. the tube 72 is internally threaded at its upper end to receive the threaded stub 73b of the closing plate '73 of the lower valve member. The apertures '74 are shown to lie at different points of the length of the tube '72 whereby a gradually increasing stream of fluid enters through these apertures as the tube '72 raised. A threaded plug '72s is likewise engaged in the internal threading of the tube '72 and has a passage therethrough which has a large diameter '72t at its upper end and a small diameter 72111 at its lower end.

In operation, a coin is inserted into the machine and the handle 22 is turned in a counter-clockwise direction, as has been described, whereby the shaft 23 engages with the teeth 82 on the tube '72 and causes an upward movement of this tube. Initially, the upper valve member is moved until the openings 68 enter the water inlet pipe 65 and thus further entry of Water from the pipe 65 is prevented. Upon a slight further movement, the closing plate 67 engages its seat and affords a further seal against the entry of further water. The initial upward movement of the tube '72 has also raised the closing plate '73 away from its seat, and now after the upper closing plate 6'7 has sea-ted, the continued upward movement of the tube '72 as permitted by the spring '75 ultimately brings the openings 74 into the chamber 62 so that the liquid under the pressure prevailing in this chamber may enter the tube '72. This pressure, however, is reduced by the throttling action of the small passage through the plug 725, with the permitted free escape of the carbonated water under reduced pressure but at high speed downward in the tube '72 and into the upper compartment of the mixing block. The carbonated water, mingled with gas which has been released upon the reduction of pressure, then encounters the deflecting partition 85, where its speed is reduced and its momentum substantially absorbed. It will particularly be noted that carbonated water under the full pressure of the tank is not brought into contact with syrup. It has been found in practice that by avoiding such contact at a high pressure or speed, a better mixture is obtained and there is not so great an escape of gas from the water that a quantity of foam is formed which entirely fills the receiving cup B (Fig. 1) without containing the requisite quantity of actually liquid beverage: so that there is an overflow of foam and liquid and the platform 111 upon which the cup is located becomes soiled, and the customer receives a beverage containing too much foam and too little actual liquid.

The shaft 23 during its clockwise movement also turns the gear 37 and therewith moves the plunger and the piston 40 so that a predetermined quantity of syrup is forced through the syrup pipe 53. The initial movement of the piston 40 causes a slight outward movement of syrup through the refilling openings 41s of the cylinder 41: but after the piston 40 has passedthese openings, it delivers the quantity of syrup which is determined by the diameter of the cylinder 41 and the length of stroke of the piston 40 below the openings 41s. This syrup is caused to open the check valve 87 at the lower end of the syrup pipe 53 and to enter the lower compartment of the mixing block, which preferably has already been wetted by the first water entering from the tube 72 and through the openings 86. The water and syrup continue to enter during the movement of the shaft 23, but are temporarily retained by the partition 89 in the mixing tube, while a gradual outflow through the openings 90 occurs. The initial gas head of the carbonated water is reduced by the plug '72s and by impact upon the partition 85 as well as by the passage through the tube 72 and the openings 86. As the syrup and water are brought together and the evolution of gas occurs in the mixing block and tube, a thorough mixing occurs, so that a properly mixed beverage is delivered from the nozzle 91. It is preferred to so arrange the parts that the water continues to run for a short time after the last syrup has been delivered from the pipe 53, whereby a thorough rinsing of the mixing block and tube occurs: this water, however, passing into the cup and mixing thoroughly with the beverage which has already entered the same.

It will be noted that at some positions of the crank handle 22, when the ratchets 126 and 129 are not in engagement with teeth of the ratchet 125, a slight backward and forward movement of the handle 22 may be accomplished with a resulting movement of the shaft 23. This has no effect upon the Water measuring system since the chamber 62 is shut off from the water supply pipe 65. In the syrup measuring device, however, the upward movement of the piston 40 causes a small inspiration of air through the duct 40b from above the liquid level, but without the introduction of more liquid as might be the case were the upper end of the duct 40b below the liquid level of the tank T. Thus the present device is not susceptible of fraudulent operation to milk further syrup from the machine. When the shaft 23 has completed its counter-clockwise movement, and the handle 22 is released, the shaft moves backward in a clockwise direction. The sleeve 72 is thus returned toward its lower position so that the openings 74 are withdrawn from communicationwith the chamber 62 and the valve plate 73 is seated. Therewith, the valve plate 6'7 is lowered, and the openings 68 are exposed, but the openings 68 do not establish communication for the introduction of more carbonated water from the water inlet pipe into the chamber 62 before the openings '74 have discontinued their communication with the chamber 62. The upward movement of the plunger 35, as the shaft 23 returns, causes an opening of the check valve 40a if this movement is swift. Thus, the vacuum in the syrup pipe 53 and in the cylinder 41 is relieved, and the spring 46 may be made relatively of small size. After the piston 40 has uncovered the openings 41s syrup will flow by gravity into I g the cylinder 41 and fill the same, with the escape of the air already in the cylinder 41 upwardly through the duct 40b. It is preferred that the check valve 40a should be substantially of the specific gravity of the syrup, so that it moves promptly in response to any attempted upward flow of syrup in the duct too.

After the measuring chamber 62 has emptied, the liquid in the concave cup formed by the wall 85 drains off through the opening 85a, and the last of the water above the partition 89 drains through the small central opening thereof, so that finally all liquid is cleared out of the apparatus, and the latter is left ready for a fresh charging.

It is obvious that the invention is not limited to the form of construction shown, but that it may be modified in many ways within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is: p

1. A device of the class described, including a syrup tank, means for providing a measuring chamber in communication with said syrup tank to receive syrup by gravity therefrom, a piston movable in said cylinder, a duct extending from said piston to a point above the liquid level in said tank, and a check valve to prevent the upward flow of syrup in said duct.

2. A device of the class described, including a syrup tank, means for providing a measuring chamber in communication with said syrup tank to receive syrup by gravitational flow therefrom, a piston movable in said chamber to force the syrup therefrom, and a duct communicating with the chamber and extending above and having an opening above the liquid level in said tank, and means operable to prevent upward flow of syrup in said duct during the forcing movement of said piston.

3. In a device of the class described, means for providing a measuring chamber, an outlet valve for said chamber, an outlet conduit to receive carbonated liquid which passes through said valve, a mixing chamber to receive the carbonated liquid from said conduit and of greater area than said conduit, a partition located in said chamber and being substantially irnperfo-rate opposite the mouth of said conduit and having perforations therethrough out of alignment with said mouth, flow restricting means in said conduit whereby the restricting means prevents rapid discharge of fluid into said chamber and said partition absorbs the momentum of the fluid, and means for introducing an admixing material into said chamber at the other side of said partition.

4. In a device of the class described, a mixing device including a baffle wall for dividing the same into two chambers, a conduit to conduct a stream of liquid into one of said chambers and having its mouth located opposite said baffle wall so that the liquid is deflected from its course by said Wall, said wall being provided with openings spaced out of alinement with said mouth for the passage of fluid through said wall from said one chamber to the other, and means for introducing an admixing material into the other chamber.

5. In a device of the class described, means for providing upper and lower chambers and including a substantially horizontal partition separating said chambers, a carbonated water inlet conduit opening vertically downward into said upper chamber, said partition being substantially imperforte opposite the mouth of said conduit, and having perforations adjacent its sides, a

syrup conduit to convey syrup into said lower chamber and means for delivering the mingled water and syrup from said lower chamber.

6. In a device of the class described, means for, providing a measuring chamber, a tube arranged on a substantially vertical axis, and movable into and out of said chamber, the upper end of said tube being formed as a valve to close said chamber, said tube having openings through its walls whereby liquid may flow from said chamber into said tube, and a plug having a small aper-,

ture and seated in said tube to restrict the passage therethrough.

7. In a device of the class described, a hollow mixing block including a perforated first partition to divide the same into upper and lower chambers, a first conduit for admitting carbonated liquid under pressure into the .upper cham her, a second conduit for supplying a syrup into said lower chamber, a mixing tube secured in the lower portion of said mixing block to receive drainage therefrom, and a substantially horizontalperforated second partition located in said tube below the bottom of the lower chamber in said block.

8. A device as in claim 6, in which said first partition is dished and mounted concave upwardly.

9. A device as in claim '7 in which said first partition is dished and mounted concave upwardly, and is provided with a plurality of apertures at its periphery and with a small opening at its lowest point.

10. In a device of the class described, a hollow mixing block having an upwardly concave partition dividing the same into upper and lower compartments, said partition having a minute drainage opening at its center and provided at its margin with a plurality of openings for the passage of fluid from said upper compartment into said lower compartment, and means to introduce carbonated water vertically downward through the wall of said block substantially opposite the lowest point of said concave partition.

11. A device of the class described, including means for holding liquid, means for providing a measuring chamber in communication with said supply, means to receive liquid by gravitational flow therefrom, a piston movable in said chamber to force the liquid therefrom, and a duct com.- muriicating with the chamber and extending above and having an opening above the liquid level in said holding means, and means operable to prevent upward flow of syrup in said duct during the forcing movement of said piston.

12. In a device of the class described, means for providing a measuring chamber, means to supply fluid under pressure into said measuring chamber, an outlet conduit to receive the fluid from said measuring chamber, an outlet valve fixed to said conduit for controlling the passage of fluid from said chamber into said outlet conduit, a mixing chamber of greater cross sectional area than and surrounding the lower end of said outlet conduit, means for moving said conduit axially whereby to open and close said valve, and flow restricting means in said conduit.

13. A device as in claim 12, in which a partition is provided to divide the mixing chamber into two compartments, said outlet conduit-communicating with one compartment, means to introduce another fluid into the other compartment, said first compartment being of greater cross sectional area than said conduit, said partition having aperturesfor permitting the passage of the first fluid from said first compartment into said second compartment, said apertures having a total cross sectional area greater than the area of said conduit.

l4. In a device of the class described, the combination of means for delivering a corbonated liquid under a variable pressure head, a conduit for receiving liquid from said means including a device for restricting the flow therethrough whereby to reduce the pressure head on the liquid passing through said conduit, means to deflect the stream of liquid emerging from said conduit whereby to reduce the momentum thereof and means for introducing syrup into the stream thereafter.

15. In a device of the class described, the combination of means for delivering a liquid under a variable pressure head, a measuring device, a conduit for receiving a measured quantity of liquid from said device under a pressure which initially is substantially that in said means, a flow re stricting device on said conduit, a deflector to reduce the momentum of the stream of liquid emerging from said conduit, and means for introducing syrup into contact with the liquid after its pressure and momentum have been reduced.

- RALPH LA FAYETTE ROGERS, J R. 

